Who is Catherine Lyon from spark early years

Catherine Lyon from spark Early Years occasionally appears on social channels, and you might wonder, 'Who is she?' or 'Who does she think she is?' (We all have opinions, after all!).
Here is a video that outlines her journey so far in early years. It starts with playing in the park, her first £5 pay packet, her experience, opening and closing her nurseries, and the evolving software journey, now known as spark Early Years.
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Key Moments
*** *** *** *** ***
Introduction
0:06 - Introduction of Catherine and her 51 years in the early years industry.
0:12 - Catherine shares her journey and the challenge of condensing 51 years.
Early Beginnings
0:20 - Catherine's passion for children began during Sunday picnics.
0:33 - Playing "schools" with cattle on the farm.
Career Milestones
1:36 - Voluntary work at a hospital for the mentally and physically handicapped at age 14.
1:50 - First job at a day nursery with a pay packet of £5.
2:00 - Pursuing education despite struggles with reading and writing.
2:20 - Finding success and passion in early years education at college.
Professional Experience
2:26 - Working in various establishments, from baby units to children's homes and schools.
2:49 - Opening her own nursery and pursuing advanced qualifications.
3:00 - Memorable nannying jobs in high-society settings.
Special Education and Nursery Development
3:55 - Transition to working in special educational needs.
4:11 - Creating individual garden plots for children.
4:32 - Realisation of the need to start her own nursery.
4:45 - Founding her first nursery in 1985 with a focus on playing, learning, and achievement.
Expansion and Challenges
5:04 - Expanding the nursery to 20 places and acquiring a second building.
5:53 - Overcoming challenges such as limited space and VAT registration confusion.
6:22 - Eventually running four nurseries, all with outstanding ratings and awards.
Additional Roles and Achievements
6:37 - Becoming an assessor for the NDNA Quality Council and an Ofsted Inspector.
6:42 - Consultancy work in China and helping other settings with sparkearlyyears
Struggles and Resilience
7:07 - Facing bad press and financial challenges, leading to the closure of her nurseries.
7:40 - Emotional impact of closing the nurseries but finding new opportunities.
New Ventures
7:47 - Founder of an EYFS nursery in Shenzhen, China.
8:05 - Evolution of childcare qualifications and the shift towards professionalism in the field.
Impact on Early Years Education
8:44 - Emphasis on practical understanding of child development and individual needs.
9:27 - Leveraging research to improve ethos and pedagogy in early years education.
Play and Learning
10:05 - Importance of play in child development and learning.
10:29 - Starting a UA-cam channel in 2021 to share knowledge and experiences.
Continuing the Journey
11:13 - Ongoing consultancy work and dedication to helping early years settings thrive.
12:00 - The lasting impact of early years education on children's lives and futures.
Conclusion
12:19 - Reflection on the continuous journey as an early years educator.
13:19 - Farewell and invitation to continue learning together.